Obama visits Indian Country

President Obama on Friday became only the third U.S. sitting president in eight decades to set foot in Indian Country, encountering both the wonder of Native American culture and the struggle of tribal life on a breeze-whipped afternoon in the prairie.

Gallery: President Barack Obama poses for photos with children from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe during a Flag Day ceremony in Cannon Ball, N.D., June 13, 2014.

Charles Rex Arbogast – Associated Press - Ap

Gallery: First lady Michelle Obama wears a shawl presented to her during the president's visit to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation Friday, June 13, 2014, photo in Cannon Ball, N.D. President Barack Obama is making his first presidential visit to Indian Country for a look at two sides of Native American life, a celebration of colorful cultural traditions on the powwow grounds and a view of the often bleak modern-day conditions on tribal lands.

Charles Rex Arbogast – Associated Press - Ap

Gallery: President Barack Obama speaks at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation Friday, June 13, 2014, photo in Cannon Ball, N.D. President Obama is making his first presidential visit to Indian Country for a look at two sides of Native American life, a celebration of colorful cultural traditions on the powwow grounds and a view of the often bleak modern-day conditions on tribal lands.

Charles Rex Arbogast – Associated Press - Ap

Gallery: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama display a star quilt given to them by David Archambault II, left, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe during their visit to the Standing Roick Reservation Friday, June 13, 2014, photo in Cannon Ball, N.D. President Obama is making his first presidential visit to Indian Country for a look at two sides of Native American life, a celebration of colorful cultural traditions on the powwow grounds and a view of the often bleak modern-day conditions on tribal lands.

Charles Rex Arbogast – Associated Press - Ap

Gallery: David Archambault II, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, left, address President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama during their visit to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation Friday, June 13, 2014, photo in Cannon Ball, N.D. President Obama is making his first presidential visit to Indian Country for a look at two sides of Native American life, a celebration of colorful cultural traditions on the powwow grounds and a view of the often bleak modern-day conditions on tribal lands.

Manuel Balce Ceneta – Associated Press - Ap

Gallery: President Barack Obama, joins children of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation, in Cannon Ball, N.D., Friday, June 13, 2014, during a Cannon Ball flag day celebration, at the Cannon Ball powwow grounds. It�s the president�s first trip to Indian Country as president and only the third such visit by a sitting president in almost 80 years.

Gabriella Demczuk – Nyt - Nyt

Gallery: President Barack Obama speaks at a Flag Day ceremony on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, in Cannon Ball, N.D., June 13, 2014.

Charles Rex Arbogast – Associated Press - Ap

Gallery: A Native American dancer creates a selfie with President Barack Obama and Chairman if the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe David Archambault, left, on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation Friday, June 13, 2014, photo in Cannon Ball, N.D. President Obama is making his first presidential visit to Indian Country for a look at two sides of Native American life, a celebration of colorful cultural traditions on the powwow grounds and a view of the often bleak modern-day conditions on tribal lands.

Charles Rex Arbogast – Associated Press - Ap

Gallery: President Barack Obama watches Native American male dancers on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation Friday, June 13, 2014, photo in Cannon Ball, N.D. President Obama is making his first presidential visit to Indian Country for a look at two sides of Native American life, a celebration of colorful cultural traditions on the powwow grounds and a view of the often bleak modern-day conditions on tribal lands.